CENTRE FOR DIPLOMA STUDIES

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

LABORATORY REPORT

COURSE NAME & CODE DAC31401 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

AND HYDRAULIC LABORATORY
(HYDRAULIC)
TITLE OF EXPERIMENT PELTON TEST
SECTION 3
GROUP 2
LECTURER’S NAME ENCIK KHAIRUL ZAMAN BIN ABDUL MALEK
NAME OF GROUP ALEEYA ERDYNA BINTI MOHD NOOR AZMI
LEADER (AA171617)
GROUP MEMBERS 1. ILI NADHIRAH BINTI IBRAHIM (AA171997)
2. NUR AMIRAH BINTI MAT ZAIN (AA171344)
3. NUR AIN BINTI ABU BAKAR (AA171372)

1.0 OBJECTIVES
To study the characteristic curves of a Pelton turbine operating at a different fluid flow rates
with high head

2.0 SUMMARY THEORY

Turbines are classified into two general category impulse and reaction. In both types the fluid
passes through a runner having blades. The momentum of the fluid in the tangential direction
is changed and so a tangential force on the runner is produced the runner therefore rotates and
performs useful work, while the fluid leaves with reduced energy. The important feature of
the impulse machine is that there is no change in static pressure across the runner. In the
reaction machine the static pressure decreases as the fluid passer through the runner. For any
turbine the energy held by the fluid is initially in the form of pressure. i.e. a high level
reservoir in a hydroelectric scheme. The Impulse turbine has one or more fixed nozzles, in
each of which this pressure is converted to the kinetic energy of an unconfined jet. The jets of
fluid then impinge on the moving blades of the runner where they lose practically all their
kinetic energy. In a reaction machine the changes from pressure to kinetic energy takes place
gradually as the fluid moves through the runner, and for this gradual change of pressure to be
possible the runner must be completely enclosed and the passages in it entirely full of the
working fluid. The general relationship between the various forms of energy, based on the 1st
Law of Thermodynamics applied to a unit mass of fluid flowing through a control volume
(such as the turbine it self), is expressed as:

v2
-Ws= d( ) +g dz+∫VdP+F (1)
2

Where,

-Ws = Work performed by the fluid on the turbine

v2
d( )= Change in kinetic energy of the fluid
2

g dz = Change in potential energy of the fluid

∫VdP =Change in pressure energy

where V is the volume per unit mass of the fluid.

 dP p 1−p 2
For an incompressible fluid of constant density ϱ, the term ∫VdP= ∫ = , where p2
ρ ρ
refers to the turbine discharge outlet and p1 to the turbine inlet.

F =Frictional energy loss as heat to the surrounding or in heating the fluid itself as it travels
from inlet to outlet

The first three terms of the right hand side represent the useful work Wa i.e.

v 12−v 22 ρ1−ρ 2
Wa= +g (z1-z2) +
2 ρ
(2)

where subscript 2 refers to the turbine outlet and subscript 1 to the inlet

The term Wa represents the actual work produced in changing the energy stages of a
unittmass of the fluid. This may alternatively be presented as the total dynamic head H of the
turbine, by converting the units from work per unit mass to head expressed as a length:

v 12−v 22 ρ1−ρ 2
H= +(z1-z2) +
2g pg
(3)

It can be assumed for the purposes of the following practical experiments that the fluid is
incompressible (i.e. ρ is constant)

The operating characteristics of a turbine are often conveniently shown by plotting torque T,
brake power Pb and turbine efficiency Et, against turbine rotational speed N for a series of
volume flow rates Qv, as shown in Figure 2. It is important to note that the efficiency reaches
a maximum and then falls, whilst the torque falls constantly and linearly. In most cases a
turbine is used to drive a generator in the production of electricity. The speed of the generator
is fixed to produce a given frequency of electricity. The optimum conditions for operation
occur when the maximum turbine efficiency coincides with the rotational speed of the
generator. As the load on the generator increases then the flow of water to the turbine must
increase to maintain the required operating speed.
 Figure 1: Example characteristics of a turbine at difference flow rates

The basic terms used to define, and therefore measure, turbine performance in relation to
rotational speed includes:

i) Volume flow rate

ii) Head

iii) Torque, power output and efficiencies

Volume Flow Rate, Q

The volume flow rate of fluid through the turbine is the volume passing through the system
per unit time. In SI units, this is expressed in cubic meters per second (m3 /s). Volume flow
rate of fluid can be measured using the SOLTEQ Hydraulics Bench (Model: FM110) or
any volumetric calibration tank. The unit is in liter per unit time. Therefore a conversion is
necessary.
Head, H

The term head refers to the elevation of a free surface of water above or below a reference
datum. In the case of a turbine we are interested in the head of the water entering the rotor,
which of course has a direct effect on the characteristics of the unit.

Power Output and Efficiencies

The brake power Pb produced by the turbine in creating torque, T on the brake at rotor speed
N is given by Equation 4:

Pb = 2πNT ¿ = Watt) (4)

The torque itself is given by the equation:

T =Fbr (5)

Where Fb is the brake force reading on the balance and r is the pulley radius. However, the
fluid friction losses in the turbine itself, represented as F in Equation 1, require a hydraulic
efficiency Eh to be defined as:-

Power absorbe by rotor (Pr )

Eh = ×100 % (6)
' Usefu l ' Power Supplied ( Ph)

Further, the mechanical losses in the bearing, etc require a mechanical efficiency Em to be
defined as:

Power supplied by rotor (Pm)

Em = ×100 % (7)
Power absorbed by rotor ( Pr)

The Pelton turbine units do not include the direct measurement of mechanical power Pm, but
indeed measures brake force applied to the rotor via pulleys. A further efficiency is therefore
required expressing the friction losses in the pulley assembly Eb:

Power absorbed by brake( Pb)

Eb = ×100 %
Power supplied by rotor ( Pm)
(8)

The overall turbine efficiency Et is thus:

 Power absorbed by brake( Pb)
Eb = ×100 %
' Useful Fluid Power( Ph)

2× π × N ×T
= ×100 %
ρw × g× Hi ×Qw
(9)

Thus,

Et = Eh× Em × Eb (10)

In general the efficiency of the turbine is provided as isoefficiency curves. They show the
interrelationship among Q, w, and h. A typical isoefficiency plot is provided in Figure 3.

Figure 2: Isoefficiency curve for a laboratory-scale Pelton turbine

3.0 EQUIPMENT

Figure 3: Assembly Diagram (Front View) for Demonstration of Pelton Turbine

(Model: FM 41)

Figure 4: Assembly Diagram (Back View) for Demonstration of Pelton Turbine

1. Spring Balance

2. Pelton Turbine

3. Tensioning Screw

4. Pressure Gauge

5. Spear Valve (Nozzle)

6. Pulley

Figure 5: Equipment of experiment

4.0 PROCEDURE

1. Perform the general start-up procedures.

2. Then, fully open the throttle valve and allow the water to circulate until all air bubbles
have dispersed.

3. Open and adjust the spear valve until 1.5 kgf/cm2 of inlet water head shown on P1
pressure gauge.

4. Tighten up the tensioning screw on the pulley wheel until the turbine is almost stalled
(rotor just turning).

5. Note the value of the pulley brake on F1 value (this will be the maximum brake force
value). Decide on suitable increments in force to give adequate sample points (typically 8
points between minimum and maximum brake force).

6. Slacken off the tensioning screw so no force is being applied to the turbine, i.e. Fb at
almost minimum. Record the volumetric flowrate (Q), force reading (Fb), water head (P1)
and turbine rotational speed (N), into the experimental data sheet. This represents the first
point on the characteristic curve.

7. Note that the value read from the tachometer using photo method for turbine rotational
speed will be divided by half to get the actual speed value. This is because there are 2
reflective stickers on the surface of the pulley.

8. Tighten the screw to give the first increment in force for the brake. When readings are
steady enough, record all the readings again.

9. Repeat step 7 above for a gradually increasing set of Fb values, i.e. increasing values of
torque. The final sample point will correspond to the turbine stalling.

10. The recorded set of data may now be used for analysis and to plot the Pelton turbine
characteristics curve.

11. Now decrease the volume flow rate by closing the bench control valve slightly to a new
setting by changing the throttle valve position and at the same time also change the spear
valve position to maintain the pressure at 1.5 kgf/cm2. Repeat the taking of samples for
gradually increasing values of torque, as in Steps 4 - 10 above. Repeating this step will
produce a series of result sets for comparison.
 5.0 DATA AND CALCULATION

Flow rate Measurement Data

V (L) T (s) T (min) Q (LPM) Q (m3/s)

10 23.38 0.38966667 25.66296 0.000427716
10 19.72 0.32866667 30.42596 0.000507099
10 18.68 0.31133333 32.11991 0.000535332
10 20.19 0.3365 29.71768 0.000495295
10 21.21 0.3535 28.28854 0.000471476
10 22.31 0.37183333 26.89377 0.000448229

Pelton Turbine Experiment Data:

F1 F2 Fb1 Fb2 Fb N N
( gm) (gm) (gm) (gm) (N) (RPM) (Hz)
600 890 5.886 8.7309 2.8449 2591 43.18333
650 960 6.3765 9.4176 3.0411 2758 45.96667
700 1030 6.867 10.1043 3.2373 2703 45.05
750 1100 7.3575 10.791 3.4335 2405 40.08333
800 1160 7.848 11.3796 3.5316 2287 38.11667
850 1240 8.3385 12.1644 3.8259 1988 33.13333

Pelton Turbine Experimental Result Summary

Q P1 P1 P1 Hi Ph T Pb Et
(m3/s) (psi) (kgf/cm2) (bar) (ph) (W) (Nm) (W) (%)
4E-04 23 1.617 1.586 16.165 67.827 0.114 30.880 45.528
5E-04 19 1.336 1.310 13.354 66.430 0.122 35.137 52.894
5E-04 18 1.266 1.241 12.651 66.438 0.129 36.658 55.177
5E-04 20 1.406 1.379 14.057 68.299 0.137 34.594 50.651
5E-04 21 1.476 1.448 14.759 68.265 0.141 33.836 49.566
4E-04 22 1.547 1.517 15.462 67.990 0.153 31.864 46.865
 Torque vs Turbine Rational Speed
0.18
0.16
0.14
0.12
Torque, Nm

0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
Turbine Rational Speed, Hz

Power Output versus Turbine Rational Speed

68.5

68

67.5
Power Output, W

67

66.5

66

65.5

65
32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
Turbine Rational Speed, Hz

Effieciency versus Turbine Rational Speed

60

50

40
Efficiency, %

30

20

10

0
32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
Turbine Rational Speed, Hz
6.0 DISCUSSION

Pelton Wheel Turbine is an impulse or a constant pressure water turbine. In this case
water head is very high. Pelton wheel consists of a wheel called rotor. The rotor of the turbine
consists of a circular disc with a number of double spoon shaped buckets evenly distributed
over the periphery.

Based on the result obtained above, can see how Pelton Wheel reacts to different kind
of input. For graph torque versus turbine rational speed shown was decrease. Different flow
rates give different value of work input. The slower the flow rates, the larger the work being
put into the wheel. From the graph, it can be seen that the higher efficiency is 55.177%. The
efficiency of the slower flow rates is also better than faster one. The speed of the wheel also
dropped when much weight being dropped until it stopped suddenly when the weight is too
much for it to go against.

7.0 CONCLUSION

The objective of this experiment is to study the characteristic curves of a Pelton turbine
operating at a different fluid flow rates with high head. This experiment was conducted at
hydraulic laboratory and the results obtained was encourage. As a conclusion from the
experiment that had been performed, we can conclude that different range of flow rates and
rotational speeds influences the performance of Pelton wheel turbine. The combination of
flow rate and jet velocity manipulates the power or work input. The bigger the diameter
nozzle the faster the flow rates but lower in velocity jet.
8.0 REFERENCES

1.  "COW THAT ASSISTED SCIENCE". The South Eastern Times. , (1661). South

Australia. 24 November 1922. p. 6. Retrieved 10 March 2017 – via National Library
of Australia.
2. "MINING INTELLIGENCE". Launceston Examiner. XLV, (210). Tasmania,
Australia. 22 August 1885. p. 3. Retrieved 10 March 2017 – via National Library of
Australia.
3. Brady, James E. Engineering Thermodynamic. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1997.

4. “Working Principle of Pelton Turbines”

https://www.academia.edu/26404016/Pelton_Turbines_-_2016 (reached on August
20, 2019)